Lighting apparatus and controlling method thereof

Abstract

A lighting apparatus includes a first lighting module, a second lighting module, a rectifier, and a controller. The rectifier is used to rectify the AC power into an input power. The controller is coupled to the rectifier, the first lighting module, and the second lighting module for receiving the input power. When the input power is less than a reference value, the controller controls the first lighting module, the second lighting module, and the rectifier to form a first connection state. When the input power is greater than the reference value, the controller controls the first lighting module, the second lighting module, and the rectifier to form a second connection state. Also, a controlling method of the lighting apparatus is disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lighting apparatus of receiving alternating current (AC), comprising:
 a first lighting module; 
 a second lighting module; 
 a rectifier for converting the AC into an input power; and 
 a controller coupled to the rectifier, the first lighting module, and the second lighting module, the controller being configured to receive the input power, when the input power being less than a reference value, the controller controls the first lighting module, the second lighting module, and the rectifier to form a first connection state, when the input power being greater than the reference value, the controller controls the first lighting module, the second lighting module, and the rectifier to form a second connection state. 
 
     
     
       2. The lighting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller further comprising:
 a switch coupled to the first lighting module and the second lighting module; and 
 a controlling unit coupled to the rectifier and the switch, the controlling unit controls the switch to configure the first lighting module, the second lighting module, and the rectifier in forming the first connection state or the second connection state. 
 
     
     
       3. The lighting apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first connection state is defined by the first lighting module and the second lighting module electrically connected to the rectifier in parallel, and wherein the second connection state is defined by the first lighting module and the second lighting module electrically connected to the rectifier in series. 
     
     
       4. The lighting apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first connection state is defined by the first lighting module connected electrically to the rectifier, with the second lighting module being cut off from the rectifier, and wherein the second connection state is defined by the first lighting module and the second lighting module electrically connected to the rectifier in series. 
     
     
       5. The lighting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first lighting module and the second lighting module each comprises a light-emitting diode (LED) or a plurality of connected LEDs. 
     
     
       6. The lighting apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a power compensation module, wherein the power compensation module is coupled to the rectifier, the controller, the first lighting module, and the second lighting module, and wherein based on the voltage magnitude of the input power, the power compensation module adjusts the main current flowing across the first lighting module and the second lighting module accordingly. 
     
     
       7. The lighting apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the power compensation module further comprising:
 a voltage-controlled current source coupled to the rectifier and outputs a compensating current based on the voltage magnitude of the input power; and 
 a constant current source coupled to the voltage-controlled current source, the controller, the first lighting module, and the second lighting module, the constant current source receives the compensating current and adjusts the main current flowing across the first lighting module and the second lighting module based on the compensating current. 
 
     
     
       8. The lighting apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the power compensation module comprising:
 a voltage-controlled current source coupled to the respective output end of the first lighting module and the second lighting module, wherein based on the voltage difference between the input power versus the first lighting module and the second lighting module, the voltage-controlled current source outputs a compensating current accordingly; and 
 a constant current source coupled to the voltage-controlled current source, the controller, the first lighting module, and the second lighting module, wherein the constant current source receives the compensating current, and wherein the constant current source adjusts the main current flowing across the first lighting module and the second lighting module based on the compensating current. 
 
     
     
       9. The lighting apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the switch comprising:
 a diode having an anode and a cathode, the anode being connected to the output end of the first lighting module, the cathode being connected to the input end of the second lighting module; 
 a first transistor having a first output/input end, a second output/input end, and a first controlling end, the first output/input end being connected to the cathode of the diode, the second output/input end being connected to the input end of the first lighting module, the first controlling end being connected to the controller; and 
 a second transistor having a third output/input end, a fourth output/input end, and a second controlling end, wherein the third output/input end being connected to the output end of the second lighting module, the ground, and the rectifier, and wherein the fourth output/input end being connected to the anode of the diode, and wherein the second controlling end being connected to the controlling unit. 
 
     
     
       10. The lighting apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the controlling unit comprising:
 a bleeder circuit connected to the rectifier, the bleeder circuit establishes a input voltage reference value based on the input power; and 
 a driver circuit coupled to the bleeder circuit, wherein when the input voltage reference value is less than a set value, the driver circuit turns on the first transistor and the second transistor, to control the first lighting module, the second lighting module, and the rectifier in forming the first connection state; when the input voltage reference value is greater than the set value, the driver circuit turns off the first transistor and the second transistor, to control the first lighting module, the second lighting module, and the rectifier in forming the second connection state. 
 
     
     
       11. The lighting apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first connection state is defined by the first lighting module and the second lighting module electrically connected to the rectifier in parallel, and wherein the second connection state is defined by the first lighting module and the second lighting module electrically connected to the rectifier in series. 
     
     
       12. The lighting apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the switch is a transistor having a first output/input end, a second output/input end, and a controlling end, and wherein the first output/input end is connected in between the first lighting module and the second lighting module via a current-limiting resistor, and wherein the second output/input end is connected to the ground, and wherein the controlling end is connected to the controlling unit. 
     
     
       13. The lighting apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the controlling unit comprising:
 a bleeder circuit connected to the rectifier, the bleeder circuit establishes an input voltage reference value based on the input power; and 
 a driver circuit coupled to the bleeder circuit, wherein when the input voltage reference value is less than a set value, the driver circuit turns on the transistor, to control the first lighting module, the second lighting module, and the rectifier in forming the first connection state; when the input voltage reference value is greater than the set value, the driver circuit turns off the transistor, to control the first lighting module, the second lighting module, and the rectifier in forming the second connection state. 
 
     
     
       14. The lighting apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the first connection state is defined by the first lighting module electrically connected to the input power and the second lighting module being cut off from the rectifier, and wherein the second connection state is defined by the first lighting module and the second lighting module electrically connected to the rectifier in series. 
     
     
       15. A controlling method of the lighting apparatus, for using by a controller to control a first lighting module and a second lighting module, comprising the steps of:
 obtaining an input power, wherein the input power is of rectified alternating current (AC); 
 controlling the first lighting module, the second lighting module, and the input power to form a first connection state, when the input power is less than a reference value; and 
 controlling the first lighting module, the second lighting module, and the input power to form a second connection state, when the input power is greater than the reference value. 
 
     
     
       16. The controlling method of the lighting apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first connection state is defined by the first lighting module and the second lighting module electrically connected to the input power in parallel, and wherein the second connection state is defined by the first lighting module and the second lighting module electrically connected to the input power in series. 
     
     
       17. The controlling method of the lighting apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first connection state is defined by the first lighting module electrically connected to the input power and the second lighting module being cut off from the input power, and wherein the second connection state is defined by the first lighting module and the second lighting module electrically connected to the input power in series. 
     
     
       18. A controlling method of the lighting apparatus, for using by a controller to control a plurality of lighting modules, comprising the steps of:
 obtaining an input power, wherein the input power is of rectified alternating current (AC); 
 controlling the plurality of lighting modules to form a first connection state, when the input power is less than a first reference value; 
 controlling the plurality of lighting modules to form a second connection state, when the input power is greater than the first reference value but less than a second reference value; and 
 controlling the plurality of lighting modules to form a third connection state, when the input power is greater than the second reference value.